Posted on 05/10/2008 3:26:00 PM PDT by fings
Bo (woof) In Commentary:
Why are our owners so obsessed with finding out how intelligent we are? All they need to know is that we got it going on upstairs. How else to explain us living in their homes, eating their food and having them pick up our feces? And all of that without us paying them a dime.
In the interest of giving my parents some bragging rights, I decided to take this Canine IQ test from NBC News 26, by Mike Conroy. Let’s go question by question and see how I fared.
Test 1: Food under can
This is a test of your dog’s problem solving ability. How to do the test
1. First sit the dog, if it won’t stay you’ll need someone to hold the dog by the collar. 2. Show the dog the tidbit of food and let it sniff it. 3. With the dog’s full attention, slowly place the tidbit on the ground about two meters away and place the can over the tidbit. 4. Start timing and encourage the dog to get the food.
Scoring: If the dog knocks the can over and gets the tidbit in 5 seconds or less 5 points; 5 to 15 seconds 4 points;15 to 30 seconds 3 points; 30 to 60 seconds 2 points; [over 60 seconds and it’s still looking for the treat? Then we’ll give the dog a point for being able to breath on its own]
No need for a stop watch on this one. I’ll sit and wait until my owner picks up the can and gives me the treat underneath it. No energy exerted, maximum treat scored = genius but the scoring on this test will give me:
+0 points for being lazy
Test 2: Dog under towel
This is another measure of your dog’s problem solving ability. How to do the test
1. Your dog should be awake and reasonably active 2. Let the dog sniff the towel 3. With a quick smooth motion throw the towel over the dogs head so its head and shoulders are completely covered (you may want to practice this without the dog first). Start timing and watch silently.
Scoring: If the dog frees itself in 5 seconds or less 5 points; 5 to 15 seconds 4 points;15 to 30 seconds 3 points; 30 to 60 seconds 2 points
I think the test results on this one are hinged on ‘your dog should be…reasonably active’. At my age, if someone throws a towel on me it’s because I’ve wet myself not because my teacher sprung a surprise quiz on me. I’ll gracefully bow out of this question. That way I don’t have to worry about someone throwing a towel at me and ‘turning out the lights’ as I’m walking toward a stairwell. Canine IQ score for this question:
+0 points for being safety conscious
Test 3: Can your dog recognize a smile?
This is a test of social learning.
How to do the test
1. Pick a time your dog is sitting about 2 meters away from you 2. The dog must not have been told to stay or sit 3. Stare intently into your dogs face, when your dog looks at you, count silently to 3 and then smile broadly
Scoring: If your dog comes with tail waging 5 points; If your dog comes slowly or only part of the way with no tail waging 4 points; If your dog stands or rises to a sitting position but does not move toward you 3 points; If your dog moves away from you 2 points; If your dog pays no attention 1 point
Why should I start wagging my tail if I see my owner smile? The only reason I can think of is if he’s got spinach or pesto between his teeth that he’s going to let me pick clean.
A more appropriate test would be to see if, after a dog farts, his owner’s facial expression changes. If Rover wags his tail in less than 10 seconds, not only is he capable of social learning but he’s also the proud owner/operator of a highly efficient fart power plant. Resulting Canine IQ score:
+0 points for being emotionless
Test 4: Retrieving from under a barrier
This is a test of your dog’s problem solving (con't at http://boknowsonline.com/2008/04/25/canine-mensa/)
Now Mr. Baxter...well...he was with us about ten days when he 'learned' to open the lid of the kitchen trash can and partake of all the goodies hidden there. And he 'looks' around the corner to see if we are watching him! And he's broken the springy thingy that makes it pop. (Baxter is about 75 lbs...but also a terrier mix...go figure). We have to 'baby gate' the bathrooms because nothing is as refreshing as a drink from the commode...
So I think the doggie that doesn't knock over the can covering the treat is smart too...its just thinking...that could one of those lamp things...and I'm gonna get yelled at. :)PaMom
This test is predicated on the dog wanting the food. My wife had a dog that would have failed the test completely, food just didn’t interest him much.
Now put a female dog in the equation, different story altogether.
You'll need a very big can for test #1.
I think you’ll enjoy this.
That can test is nothing. Try keeping a smart dog separated from food...
We had to keep food away from my late dog, since he would eat everything in the house. Before we settled on a padlocked metal can, his food was placed on top of the fridge.
This dog pushed a kitchen chair up to the refrigerator, climbed up, got the bag of food, climbed down and -— PUSHED THE CHAIR BACK TO THE TABLE!!! Then he tried to eat five pounds of dog chow.
I just knew you would be here but you shocked me when I saw you drug Norm into this. Dolly the Canine just took her slave for a brisk one hour walk...
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